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Toll-Free (661) 859-1177 Se Habla Español www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com HARMAN CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC DEFENSE ATTORNEYS , APC BIGGER
THE DAILY DRIVER Attorneys Defending Your Right to the Road Meet the Heartbeat Our Intake Specialist
MAY 2024
Keeps Our Firm Moving Forward
Our law firm couldn’t help nearly as many of our hard-working clients without the support of our great team. We get hundreds of calls a week from new or prospective clients and current clients whose cases we are already negotiating or trying in court. A professional and kind approach to getting needed information from the incoming call is crucial to knowing what we can do to help the caller on the other end. At the hub of all of this day-to-day activity is our intake specialist, Karina. She takes many of our incoming calls and gets the job done well. “I enjoy being able to help clients with solving problems or providing support,” Karina says. “It is a great feeling to know that I can make a difference.” As a six-year veteran, Karina is one of our longest-tenured employees. She speaks fluent Spanish, which is very important to our Spanish-speaking clients. The commercial truck drivers we serve almost always need an attorney if they are facing a traffic ticket. As callers’ first point of contact, Karina is also their first source of the focused, personal attention to clients that is the hallmark of our firm. For first-time callers who need help with a citation, Karina explains briefly that we are traffic ticket attorneys and we are here to help. Taking clear, accurate notes, she gathers basic identifying information about each caller and enough details about their issue to determine the best next steps to help the caller. Speaking quickly and with respect for callers’ time, she explains our personal experience in that particular court and whether we can help. Based on the facts of the citation and the venue where it was issued, Karina is often able to explain some of the factors that are likely to shape the outcome. If the caller needs help with an out-of-state citation or some other matter we don’t handle, she explains why and seeks to send them on their way with the next step in solving their problem, if possible. “We wish we could assist clients in every circumstance,” she says. “Telling someone we can’t help is never easy.”
We review these calls to assess each prospective client’s case and reach out to them if necessary to supplement any information they have been given. Karina helps us meet the highest standards of accountability and service. Other calls come from current clients asking for an update on their case, which Karina can often provide. She performs all these services with a confident, upbeat attitude that builds callers’ trust. Her positivity helps set the tone for all that we do. “The most rewarding part of my job is being able to hear the words of gratitude from a client when we have helped them,” she says. “Knowing that we are able to keep a driver on the road is a great feeling.” Karina has a great work ethic and pitches in to help whenever she can. That is just how she rolls. She has a real desire to help others, acquired during her upbringing by hard-working folks in Wasco, a small town northwest of Bakersfield. She handles the highest volume of calls of anyone on our team. Her attitude and genuine concern for others make our firm feel more like a family, and we are grateful for her every day.
–Mark Bigger
(661) 859-1177 | 1
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A CAT’S NOSE KNOWS
THE UNBELIEVABLE SHARK ENCOUNTER THAT SAVED A MAN’S LIFE
Sharks are powerful, violent creatures. They can have thousands of razor-sharp teeth. They swim about 12 mph when attacking — twice the speed of a (very fast) human swimmer. The mere presence of a shark is enough to close down a beach and frighten movie audiences.
back, as well as several teeth marks on one side. The family headed home as lifeguards closed the beach, fearing more attacks. That evening, Eugene was in severe pain from the injury and was rushed to the hospital. Not surprisingly, blunt force trauma was causing his pain, befitting a large shark ramming him in the back. However, this wasn’t the only diagnosis he received that day, nor was it the most severe. While examining Eugene, doctors discovered a walnut-sized tumor on his right kidney. They quickly rolled him into the operating room and removed the cancerous tumor before it could progress.
Apparently, some sharks are different. One shark even saved a man’s life.
Eugene and his family were enjoying a warm summer day in Huntington Beach, California. As he swam in the ocean, enjoying the cool waters of the Pacific, he was struck by a sudden tremendous force, pushing his neck backward. He later described the sensation as “instant whiplash.” After a difficult and painful swim, he reached the shore. Eugene’s daughter asked why his back was so bloody. He was shocked to find a giant gash across the center of his
Whether the shark intended it or not, it may have saved Eugene’s life. Undetected, the tumor might have
metastasized and spread to the rest of his body. Without that attack, he may not have known about the cancer before it was too late. Because of that fact, we are confident the shark is a hero, whether it knows it or not.
Road to Ruin THE DIRE CONSEQUENCES OF DROWSY DRIVING
The hazards of driving drunk are well-known, but driving on the verge of sleep is almost as risky.
Drinking coffee or energy drinks can help you stay alert, but only briefly, and you might not be as awake as you think. People who are severely sleep-
Some professional truck drivers have family responsibilities or second jobs that keep them from getting enough sleep. They also tend to overestimate their own endurance.
deprived may still lose consciousness for four or five seconds in a “micro-sleep.” If you’re driving 55 mph when that happens, you will have traveled more than 100 yards by the time you wake up!
Illegal tricks of the trade. Some truckers use drugs to stay awake, a sure way to put
A sleepy driver behind the wheel is as dangerous as a drunk driver. They exhibit
the same slower reaction times, impaired attention, and bad judgment. Drowsy driving can result in swerving and far worse mistakes. Lane violations by a commercial truck driver are considered serious traffic offenses and can result in 1.5 points on your license. And drowsy driving was a factor in nearly 700 fatal crashes in 2021, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Avoiding these career-ending mistakes is essential. Legal tricks of the trade. Drowsy-driving crashes happen most often between midnight and 6 a.m. or in the late afternoon, so be mindful of your circadian rhythms when planning breaks. If you notice yourself hitting a rumble strip or drifting across the center line, pull over for a nap or drink one or two cups of coffee.
your livelihood and your career at risk. Last year, 10,326 drivers tested positive for cocaine, 4,515 for methamphetamine, and 4,222 for amphetamine, according to federal data reported by Transport Topics News. Truckers who fail random or post-accident drug testing in California are likely to have their licenses suspended or revoked. If you have received a citation do not try to handle it alone. These are serious charges, and you need a skilled lawyer to aid in gathering evidence and fighting for your rights. Our firm will look into all the details of your ticket and build a strong defense. This will give you the maximum chance of getting the ticket thrown out, or at least have the penalties reduced. We care about your future and your livelihood.
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Your Referrals Make a Difference! Thanks to your 99 referrals in April, we were able to donate $1,980 to help fight human trafficking and lead medical missions. INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION To learn more about International Justice Mission and their mission to protect half a billion vulnerable people from exploitation, please go to IJM.org . MEDICAL MISSIONS OUTREACH To learn more about showing God’s love by providing quality medical treatment to some of the poorest people in the world, visit the Medical Missions Outreach home page at Medical-Outreach.com .
Weighty Matters
How to Handle a Weight Limit Citation
Professional truck drivers need a lot of skill to haul heavy cargoes. They also need to know how to manage those mega-loads to avoid violating government weight limits. A citation for violating complex federal and state weight restrictions can threaten your commercial driver’s license and your livelihood. Drivers who exceed legal weight limits can be fined and may face civil or criminal penalties, including possible suspension of their commercial driver’s licenses or impoundment of their vehicles. Drivers are required to stop each time they pass any of the numerous weigh stations operated by the California Highway Patrol. Failure to do so is a misdemeanor. The carrying capacity of your truck is determined by subtracting the weight of your truck and trailer from the federal maximum weight of 80,000 pounds. Also, truck drivers must make sure cargo is distributed evenly so that no axle group carries too much weight. California sets additional rules. The state weight limits are 20,000 pounds for a single axle and 34,000 pounds for a tandem axle. The state also imposes limits for the steering axle, based on manufacturer’s specs, and for tires, based on width. An axle bearing too much weight can be unstable during turns or on uneven terrain. Tires may burst, axles can bend or break, or trailers can tip. Violating weight restrictions is risky in other ways. If other drivers are hurt in a crash involving a commercial trucker, they are likely to investigate whether the truck driver was in compliance with legal weight limits when the crash occurred. A violation could result in harsher penalties for the driver. Simply paying a ticket in hopes that it will go away is an illusion — it’s seen as an admission of guilt. Our firm has assisted many professional drivers with weight-limit violations in our area, including Kern, Tulare, Fresno, Inyo, and Mono counties. If you have been cited for a weight- limit violation, don’t hesitate to call us to assist you. We have flexible appointment times and no-obligation, free consultations.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
ISAIAH 41:10
(661) 859-1177 | 3
, APC HARMAN CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC DEFENSE ATTORNEYS BIGGER
Toll-Free (661) 859-1177 Se Habla Español www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1701 Westwind Drive Suite 203 Bakersfield, CA 93301
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Spotlight on Karina, Our Hard-Working Intake Specialist................................................... PAGE 1
When a Shark Became a Lifesaver................... PAGE 2
Smart (and Not-So-Smart) Routes to Staying Alert.......................................................... PAGE 2
Weight-Limit Violation? Seek Legal Help!..... PAGE 3
Reclaiming Resilience … Through Rejection?.............................................................. PAGE 4
Have a ticket in California? Give us a call, and we’ll help you out! Regardless of the location, we can point you in the right direction free of charge!
FEARLESS LIVING: UNLEASHING POTENTIAL THROUGH REJECTION THERAPY
These days, society glorifies success, often ignoring failure’s important role in bringing about positive change. But, for better or worse, rejection and failure are universal experiences — we’ve all felt vulnerable and disheartened at times. Yet a growing movement challenges the disappointment and gloom around rejection, advocating for a proactive approach through “rejection therapy.” The idea is to intentionally seek out rejection to build resilience and transform your relationships.
The reality is that fear of rejection can be much more limiting than actually being rejected. This fear hinders growth in romantic relationships, friendships, and careers. However, with structured exposure to the pain of rejection, you can learn to limit the fear. In fact, after several rounds of this therapy, you won’t think twice or worry about rejection. And besides, you may actually succeed at something you’re not expecting. As Wayne Gretzky famously pointed out, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
The core philosophy is that facing rejection head-on can limit its negative emotional impact. For example, you can apply for jobs you may not be qualified for or ask for favors that are likely to be turned down to expose yourself to the experience. Jia Jiang, a supporter of this theory and author of “Rejection Proof,” told The Guardian, “If you can train yourself to become desensitized to rejection, you can achieve anything.” Jiang explores his own journey in his book and illustrates how this intentional exposure to rejection fostered his personal growth.
Rejection therapy is bold, and it won’t be easy the first couple of times. However, it will challenge what you think is possible and offer a unique perspective on your personal abilities and development. Embrace rejection as a tool to cultivate self- confidence, resilience, and empowerment, and choose to live a fearless life today.
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